Hopewell fire that displaced two residents, 18 puppies was caused by unattended candle

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - Police have ruled that the April 2 fire that displaced two residents and 18 puppies in the 2300 block of Pennington Road was the result of a scented candle left unattended.

One puppy died of smoke inhalation from the blaze.

“The fire was determined at this point as not suspicious,” said township police Lt. Tom Puskas. “We believe that it was accidental, and was related to some scented candles that were in the room.”

He said that investigators detected scents consistent with candles while probing the cause of the house fire.

“They were burning some scented candles in the room, and it would appear that one of the candles was left unattended for a short time,” Puskas said.

While the case has been closed on the cause of the fire, it is unclear whether animal control officials are pursuing charges against the owner of the 18 puppies rescued during the evening blaze. Officials last week said they were focusing on the conditions the animals lived in, and whether any unlawful operations took place in the home.

In the days after the fire, 12 puppies were being housed at SAVE Animal Rescue in Princeton, while six others were being cared for an at emergency veterinarian hospital in Pennsylvania.